Make an appointment

Archive for: Depression

Helpful tips for handling the holiday “blahs”

By Pinnacle Counseling
Thursday, January 1st, 2015

Are you noticing your body slowing down as the holidays approach? Are you unsure of how to cope with these feelings and symptoms? Make sure there is not a physical or medical explanation for your depression. If your body isn’t feeling “right”, talk to your doctor. Treat your body the way it deserves and needs to be treated by eating healthy, getting enough rest, and regularly exercising. Taking a few moments to focus on your breathing is an easy and effective way to help your mind and body to relax, and can be done anywhere. Pull yourself into the present and take in the gifts that are around you now. Notice the sunshine, a beautiful bird, a cloud, or another gift of nature. Listen to the music or sounds that you “connect” with. A walk or change of scenery can bring newness into your surroundings. If possible, do something nice for another person, even if it is only to smile or greet them. Sometimes the simple, small steps we take make can make a big difference.

 

Erika McCaghren

Categories : Alternatives to Medication, Anxiety, Change, Depression, Emotions, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Relationships
Tags : , , , ,

The holiday "blahs"

By Pinnacle Counseling
Thursday, January 1st, 2015

With the holiday season and winter months fast approaching, feelings and symptoms of depression will often surface or increase. Feeling “down in the dumps” or “blah”, sad, discouraged, hopeless, irritable, cranky, or easily frustrated are typical symptoms of depression. Also feeling withdrawn, a loss of interest or pleasure in activities, changes in appetite, sleep, energy, difficulty concentrating, and making decisions are commonly reported. A sense of feeling worthless or excessive guilt may be experienced. Some of these feelings may actually interfere with our relationships, school, job, social activities, and even day to day functioning. If you experience a few or most of these symptoms it is wise to pay attention to what your body is telling you and to take care of yourself.

Often people minimize or don’t understand depression and the possible effects of going untreated. Working with a mental health professional can help you understand depression and learn multiple ways to manage its symptoms. Regardless of the season, feeling better means living better!

 

Erika McCaghren

Categories : Affirmations, Alternatives to Medication, Anxiety, Change, Depression, Emotions, Marriage Counseling, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Relationships, Teens, Therapy
Tags : , , , ,

Innovative, Creative, and Inspiring

By Pinnacle Counseling
Thursday, January 1st, 2015

Innovative, creative, and inspiring are tags used to search for videos on TED.com, the source for videos on almost anything. While it is nice to find something something funny to watch while you are at work, here are some videos that might spark your attention in the “tag” areas. Check them out:

Sarah Kay
“How many lives can you live?”
https://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_kay_how_many_lives_can_you_live
Sarah Kay uses two spoken-word poems to explain her love/hate relationship with living one life. She shares her hope to rush and hear everyone’s stories and to share her story so that she can see life through another person’s frame of reference as many times as she can, so as to not miss out on anything that others have to offer. Sarah ends her talk with another spoken-word poem about the power of experience and living lives of our own and of others in a special way.


Ash Beckham
“We are all hiding something. Let’s find the courage to open up.”
https://www.ted.com/talks/ash_beckham_we_re_all_hiding_something_let_s_find_the_courage_to_open_up
Ash Beckham discusses the closets that keep us from opening up and sharing our story. The story that makes us shut the door to the closet of secrets and pushes others away. Although she tells her own story of having a hard conversation about who she was to a little girl in a diner, Ash sends an important message about connection. That message is that the safety of covering up secrets and hiding from owning our story scares us into believing that we are alone. What we are is different and unique, but we are never alone in our struggles.

“All a closet is… is a hard conversation.”  –Ash Beckham

 

Colin Stokes
“How movies teach manhood”
http://www.ted.com/talks/colin_stokes_how_movies_teach_manhood#t-46850
Colin Stokes uses two classic movies, The Wizard of Oz and Star Wars, to illustrate the differences between masculine and feminine ideals presented by mainstream video media that play continuously throughout a child’s upbringing. These ideals in the form of movie protagonists in Disney and Pixar films can be masculine or feminine, but the message of courage transcends much deeper than hero or heroine. Stokes challenges parents to see the journey of the movies to show children themes that are more impactful and universal than fighting the bad guy or saving the princess; they involve friendships, self-discovery, and teamwork.

Erika McCaghren

Categories : Addiction, Affirmations, Alternatives to Medication, Anxiety, Change, children, Depression, Emotions, Meditation, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Relationships, Therapy
Tags : , , , ,

Anger & Depression

By Pinnacle Counseling
Thursday, January 1st, 2015

A gentle but steady current of anger inwardly directed will result in depression over time. Many people experiencing depression are surprised when mental health professionals question them about anger. Are you angry? Where is your anger? How are you angry? Can you express your anger, share it, verbalize it? Sometime is requires a substantial amount of cognitive, emotional, and spiritual spade work to uncover and expose this well of inwardly-directed anger.

Everyone is familiar with anger that explodes. But anger that seethes can be just as dangerous. Particularly when we are the targets of our own quiet rage.

Categories : Depression, Mental Health

Love yourself enough to seek help with addictions this Valentine’s Day

By Pinnacle Counseling
Thursday, January 1st, 2015

There is no doubt that substance abuse and addiction is difficult during every season of the year. Once the rush of the holiday season, balancing work and holiday time off, and a long few days of travel to see friends and family is over; all that is left is getting back to ‘normal’. January is a month full of change and resolutions, so making time to cope with personal hardships (like addiction and substance abuse) is put at the bottom of your to-do list. As February approaches, the usual hustle of preparing for a magical and romantic Valentine’s Day for you and a significant other, spouse, or partner takes priority. This reveals the real question: is there ever time to get help for myself?

Realizing that you are important enough to get help is the first step on your journey to navigate out of the dark path of addiction and substance abuse to a healthier life. The problems associated with addiction and substance abuse seem to start out slowly and pick up speed in what seems like no time at all. Using and abusing substances affects your life, the life of your friends, family members, children, co-workers, and everyone else you interact with on a daily basis. What began as a coping method for stress or an activity during your downtime quickly becomes a lifestyle and the center point of many more problems. To take charge of the cycle of use and abuse of drugs and alcohol is often the hardest part of the recovery and healing process; and takes courage and support. The process of recovery requires resources to get the help that you need in order to control the substances that have a strong grip on your personal life. Mental health counseling and substance abuse treatment are the vital next steps in the process of your recovery. Overall, wanting to live your life as the healthiest and most well person you can be is reason enough to seek help for addictions for the holiday of celebrating love. Loving yourself enough to get help is a magical and romantic thing that can give you back a healthy fresh start to your relationship with yourse

Erika McCaghren

Categories : Addiction, Addiction Recovery, Alcohol, Change, Depression, Drugs, Emotions, Mental Health, Perscription Painkillers, Relationships, Sexual Addiction, substance abuse, Therapy
Tags : , , , , ,

Helpful tips for handling the holiday "blahs"

By Pinnacle Counseling
Thursday, January 1st, 2015

Are you noticing your body slowing down as the holidays approach? Are you unsure of how to cope with these feelings and symptoms? Make sure there is not a physical or medical explanation for your depression. If your body isn’t feeling “right”, talk to your doctor. Treat your body the way it deserves and needs to be treated by eating healthy, getting enough rest, and regularly exercising. Taking a few moments to focus on your breathing is an easy and effective way to help your mind and body to relax, and can be done anywhere. Pull yourself into the present and take in the gifts that are around you now. Notice the sunshine, a beautiful bird, a cloud, or another gift of nature. Listen to the music or sounds that you “connect” with. A walk or change of scenery can bring newness into your surroundings. If possible, do something nice for another person, even if it is only to smile or greet them. Sometimes the simple, small steps we take make can make a big difference.

 

Erika McCaghren

Categories : Alternatives to Medication, Anxiety, Change, Depression, Emotions, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Relationships
Tags : , , , ,

Depression? Stress? Anxiety? Do you see these in yourself?

By Pinnacle Counseling
Thursday, January 1st, 2015

Oftentimes life weighs heavy and the idea of pushing through another day, another meeting, another list of demands of another thing, another meeting or another day, feels impossible! Even the though we know that it would be better if we take care of ourselves, we’re still unable to cope with yet another ‘have to’…another responsibility. So how can we relieve the pressure and find what we need?

 

It’s actually easier and more accessible than you think. The relief starts with the awareness of what we are physically feeling. Our bodies are the key to emotional and physical relief. By Paying attention to the pounding of your chest, while in traffic and taking a breath, will change the thought from: “I must be there NOW!” to: “I’ll get there as quickly as I can.” By Listening to the tension in your shoulders, and learning how and when to relax them will change your life. Learning to think about the kind words you might offer a friend will change how your body feels.

 

Learning the messages we say to ourselves are harsher than words you would use when you’re mad at someone you don’t like! The awareness of your body and thoughts, bring about self-care. This all must really starts with a desire for relief and a small willingness to understand self-compassion! As you become more aware of the feedback your body gives you when you think negatively of yourself, you’ll begin to have more relief. This is the beginning of learning how you can control one thing to reduce your stress. The practice of your thoughts in self-acceptance is the beginning of the NEW you! You really are good enough! You are exactly where you need to be!

Torie Sullivan, LPC

Categories : Affirmations, Anxiety, Change, Depression, Emotions, Meditation, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Relationships, Therapy
Tags : , , , , ,

Am I Depressed? What is Depression?

By Pinnacle Counseling
Thursday, January 1st, 2015

Many people experiencing depression do not realize that they are depressed. This is unfortunate. Because depression is a treatable condition. In fact, treatment outcomes for depression in many cases are quite good. People who have recovered from depression, with medication, therapy, or a combination of both, describe a transformative experience. Their world seems to change. People often use visual analogies to describe the experience. The world transforms from a place dull, grey, and full of shadows to a place full of light and color, a place of brightness.

Depression is difficult to talk about. People are often ashamed. Shame drives depression, feeds it.

Here’s the criteria used by a doctor, psychologist, or therapist to diagnose depression:

  • Feelings of sadness or emptiness most of the time, most days.
  • Decreased interest in or pleasure from most activities, most days.
  • Significant weight loss or loss of appetite.
  • Feel like sleeping all the time, or unable to sleep when tired.
  • Fatigue, feeling little or no energy.
  • Feelings of worthlessness or persistent guilt.
  • Inability to concentrate, make decisions, most days.
  • Thoughts of death, suicide.

Mental health experts look for five or more of the above criteria experienced over a two-month period.

Depression is a treatable condition, covered by most forms of health insurance.

Categories : Depression

Gratitude

By Pinnacle Counseling
Thursday, January 1st, 2015

Gratitude has been proven by research to significantly decrease anxiety and depression. Individuals who spend time thinking  about the positive elements of their lives report feeling happier and more motivated. So, as the Thanksgiving season  approaches, what can you be thankful for? Be sure to look around at not only the significant relationships and events in your life, but also the little details that actually do make a difference, even if they may seem insignificant. We all have things to be grateful for, even if it’s just the gift of waking up every day and experiencing life. Sometimes, we just have to shift our focus in  order to see it.

Writing a list or keeping a journal of daily events that cause you to be grateful is a helpful exercise. Additionally, be sure to tell your friends, family, coworkers and others what you appreciate about them. Don’t forget, you can be grateful for yourself as well! Express gratitude towards yourself for who you are and things that you have accomplished. Each of these exercises will more than likely serve to lighten your mood and increase your hope about the future.

Categories : Anxiety, Depression, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Uncategorized
« Previous Page
Next Page »

Ready to reach out?

Give us a call(479) 282-2443

Get in contact with one of our counselors today.

Contact Us
The environment is so relaxing and so much more welcoming than other facilities.
My therapist has been able to offer a different perspective or reframe my train of thought into something easier to process and deal with on…
Our therapist has been fantastic at getting my anti-counseling husband engaged in our sessions and working on fixing our marriage. He is really good.
My therapist is a very friendly, enjoyable person. She is easily relatable and feels like a friend giving you good advice and a listening ear……
Our therapist has been very helpful this year helping our son move from angry, destructive behaviors to more productive ones. There is still a lot…
Our therapist has given my husband and I ideas on how to communicate better with each other and helped us understand each other better.
My therapist taught me so many practical tools to help me work through my anxiety!
From the very first meeting, I have felt comfortable talking to my therapist. I like that he thinks “outside the box” sometimes when we are…
My therapist has an outstanding understanding of core issues not obvious for me. She opened my eyes more every day.
My sessions have been very meaningful and rewarding and I feel I’m making excellent progress thus far. I initially thought I would feel very embarrassed…
Our therapist has really made a good environment for us to talk and reflect!
So pleased that I came to see my therapist. She has helped me so much and my life has changed significantly for the better.
Our therapist is such a sweet lady. I look forward every week to tell her about my life. She helps me out and makes me…
We are delighted with the improvement we have had since coming. Life is much happier at our house.
I am eternally grateful to you for helping me to overcome that [trauma] incident. For the first time in 40 years, I didn’t drink or…
I am more comfortable with my counselor in this short time than I was with my past therapist who I saw for a year.
She was always there to listen and always broke down everything I was going through and made me see things from a different perspective and…
Our therapist has been a huge help to our family in this time of need. Her ability to connect with our daughter is unprecedented and…
I’ve been very pleased with my therapist. My kids have gone to 2 other counselors and she has exceeded our expectations. We are so glad…
I called to make my first appointment and got one same day! That may have just been good luck, but it was great to be…
The counselors have been so patient and helpful! They listen to each of our concerns and offer great insight and ideas to try!
I was in a dark place before contacting Pinnacle Counseling. After the first session I felt a lot better. The counselor said she noticed a…
It was comforting to know my husband and I could both open up and share our true feelings and fears without judgment. I really appreciate…
Thank you for the gentle, supportive care. I especially like the privacy before and after appointments and the peaceful environment. I still have a long…
This is my first experience with any form of counseling, however, it has been an excellent experience. This has helped me and my wife reconnect…
I was so happy to be able to see a counselor within 24 hours of sending an e-mail requesting an appointment during a time of…
 

Pinnacle Counseling | Covid 19 Update Learn more